Bodkin / Patterns

Balloonhammer Caddis Barbless

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Barbless standard dry fly, #12-18
  • Thread Tan 8/0

Materials

  • Abdomen Tan / olive / ginger material (Antron/rabbit dubbing blend)
  • Wing Natural case (Elk hair)
  • Thorax Match abdomen (Same dubbing (or peacock))
  • Balloon head Yellow mcflylon (Strip of closed-cell foam)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the barbless hook and run thread to the bend.
  2. Dub a slim, slightly tapered abdomen forward to the 60% mark.
  3. Tie in the foam strip at the 60% mark by its rear, leaving the long tag pointing back over the eye for now.
  4. Cut, clean and stack a clump of elk hair; tie it in as a downwing over the abdomen, tips reaching the bend.
  5. Dub a small thorax in front of the wing.
  6. Fold the foam strip forward over the thorax to form the 'balloon' head and tie it down behind the eye, the closed-cell foam and elk wing together keep it riding high and dry.
  7. Whip finish behind the eye and trim the foam short in front, leaving a stub.

Tying videos

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